Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times Hillari Adam tries to get around Incarnate Word’s defense Saturday afternoon at the Junell Center. ASU won 60-51.

The Angelo State University women's basketball team hasn't been in a giving mood this holiday season.

Four days after the Rambelles set a school record by holding Schreiner to 30 points, they put the breaks on Incarnate Word on Saturday and allowed only 16 first-half points.

Despite a late Cardinals surge that allowed them to cut into a 19-point deficit, ASU's defense was again the star of a 60-51 win at the Junell Center.

Because former Lone Star Conference rival Incarnate Word is now in the Division I Southland Conference, ASU's final win of 2013 won't count toward its official record (though the Cardinals will still be saddled with the loss).

So the Belles remain 6-4, while Incarnate Word fell to 6-5.

"In the books, it's just an exhibition. But any time we put on the uniform on it's a game to us," ASU head coach Cayla Petree said. "They're all ready to go home for Christmas, so I thought their focus was really good."

ASU used an early 8-0 run to take a 21-9 lead, and the Belles were in control the rest of the afternoon. They led 28-16 at halftime.

Incarnate Word made only 5 of 24 shots and committed 11 turnovers.

"I feel like our defense was great in the first half, holding them to only 16 points," said ASU sophomore guard Amanda Weaver, who had 13 points. "Even though it was an exhibition, we still came out here and played hard and ended 2013 well."

ASU junior forward Hillari Adam had game-highs in points (19) and rebounds (9) to lead the way.

The Belles held a double-digit advantage for much of the second half, taking their largest lead at 54-35 with 5:22 remaining.

Incarnate Word closed strong, reeling off a 14-2 run to get within 56-49 with 58 seconds left.

Weaver knocked down a pair of free throws with 45 seconds left to stave off the comeback.

Although the Cardinals managed a late rally, Petree said she liked what she saw from her defense most of the night. Incarnate Word finished 15 of 52 from the floor.

"I think our 2-3 throws a lot of people off, just us running it the whole game like that, and the way we run it," Weaver said. "We do a few things differently than other teams. We've been working on it since the beginning of the year, so we've nitpicked every little thing about it. And we still make mistakes, but I think we run it pretty well."

Petree said the only glaring negative from Saturday's game was that ASU turned the ball over 24 times.

"We'd been averaging 12 or 13 per game, so we doubled up on turnovers," Petree said.

Rochelle Norris had nine points for ASU, while Karli Kellermeier had seven points and seven rebounds.

On defense, five players recorded a steal. Presley Stastny had the game's only block.

Incarnate Word was led by Kosisio Mora with 13 points and Joslinn Douglass with 11.

After an 11-day break, ASU will open LSC play Jan. 2 at Texas A&M Commerce. The Belles' next home game is Jan. 11 against Texas Woman's.

"I'm excited for us," Petree said of starting conference play. "I think coming in with a win will be huge for our confidence. The big thing is we just have to go home over the break and do something. We can't take seven or eight days off and expect to play a really athletic and fast Texas A&M-Commerce. If we don't do anything, they'll outrun us."